Education Savings Parameters
Suggested ≥ CNY 100
Total amount you hope to reach at maturity
Range 1 – 30 years
Reference: fixed monthly deposits / money market funds / fixed deposit returns
Existing initial education savings, defaults to 0
Calculation Result
Visualization
Principal vs Interest
Account Balance Growth Curve
Yearly Saving Schedule (Aggregated by Year)
| Year | Opening Balance (CNY) | Deposits During Year (CNY) | Interest During Year (CNY) | Closing Balance (CNY) |
|---|
View calculation formulas
Monthly rate: r = annual rate / 100 / 12; Total periods: n = years × 12.
Future value of existing savings: FV0 = P0 × (1 + r)n
Annuity future value (M per month): when r > 0, M × ((1 + r)n − 1) / r; when r = 0, M × n.
Total at maturity: FV = FV0 + FVM; total principal = P0 + M × n; interest = FV − total principal.
Reverse-calculate monthly contribution: net gap = max(0, Target − FV0);
when r > 0, M = gap × r / ((1 + r)n − 1); when r = 0, M = gap / n.
All amounts are calculated as integers in cents (fen) and displayed in CNY.
❓ FAQ
① What is the typical education savings interest rate?
Education savings products generally track the returns of fixed monthly deposits, money market funds, or fixed deposits with the same term. Annual returns on education savings / education fund insurance in the market are typically around 1.5% – 3.5%, subject to the actual rates quoted by banks or insurers. Consider combining them with large certificates of deposit, government bonds, and index fund dollar-cost averaging to balance yield and liquidity.
② How much should I save each month for education?
Use the "By Savings Goal" reverse mode in this tool: estimate the total education cost needed for a future year, enter the target amount, savings period, and expected annual return rate, and you will get the required monthly contribution. As a general guide, a family's monthly education fund contribution should not exceed 10% – 20% of monthly income, so it does not strain daily expenses or emergency reserves.
③ How much education fund should I prepare for my child?
Costs vary widely by city and education stage: kindergarten + compulsory education usually CNY 50,000 – 200,000; high school CNY 30,000 – 100,000; domestic college CNY 100,000 – 300,000; overseas college/graduate school CNY 800,000 – 2,000,000. Estimate the future target value with "education stage × 3% – 5% inflation" in mind, then reverse-calculate the monthly contribution with this tool — the earlier you start, the more you benefit from compound interest.
④ Will inflation erode my education fund?
Yes. Based on education costs growing roughly 3% – 5% per year over the past 20 years, CNY 100,000 today will have roughly CNY 60,000 – 70,000 of purchasing power in 10 years. Recommendations: ① keep the investment return on your education fund higher than inflation; ② regularly review and adjust your monthly contribution with this tool; ③ use the "Rule of 72" to quickly estimate doubling time: doubling years ≈ 72 ÷ annual return rate (%), e.g. about 20 years at 3.6% and about 12 years at 6%.
⑤ What is the difference between fixed monthly deposits and regular fixed deposits?
Fixed monthly deposits put in a fixed amount every month and withdraw principal plus interest in one lump sum at maturity, ideal for steady monthly accumulation. A regular fixed deposit (lump-sum deposit and withdrawal) is deposited once and withdrawn with interest at maturity. The former earns slightly less than a lump-sum deposit of the same term, but it works well as "forced saving". Both are principal- and interest-secured deposits protected by deposit insurance.